By Barbara With*Posted Dec. 8, 2016, on Wisconsin Citizens Media CooperativeReprinted here in part with permission

When veterans Wesley Clark Jr. and Michael Wood Jr. organized Veterans Stand for Standing Rock, a deploymentdocument was created and distributed through social media. In it were instructions for veterans to meet up at Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on December 4, 2016, and stand as protectors of the water protectors there.

The North Dakota governor had just issued an emergency eviction order for the camps, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had set a deadline for the protectors to leave the area by Monday, December 5. Water protectors had already been subjected to violent responses from the Morton County sheriff’s department and more was expected as the day of eviction approached. ... Click here to read the rest of this article on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative.

*Editor's Note: Author Barbara With is a citizen journalist and water protector from La Pointe, Wis., who traveled recently to North Dakota to visit the Standing Rock water protectors. Keweenaw Now appreciates the reports, photos and articles she shares with us. Photographer Kellie Stewart has been traveling with Barbara With and recently posted some interesting photos of the weather there on her Facebook page.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Stopped in front of the Vertin Gallery in Calumet, Mich., on Dec. 3, 2016, Dean Nolan of Rocking W Stable in Eagle River, Wis., offers wagon rides during the Christmas in Calumet celebration. He will again offer rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on two more Saturdays, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET -- Our new slide show features Christmas in Calumet on Dec. 3, 2016: Photos from the Poor Artists Sale, gallery exhibits on Fifth Street, and Santa at the Vertin Gallery.

To view the photos as a slide show, click here for the album. Then click on the first photo and follow the right arrows. To see the captions click on the info icon in the top right corner.

CANNON BALL, N.D. -- The department of the Army will not approve an easement that will allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe. The following statement was released by Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016:

Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not be granting the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline. Instead, the Corps will be undertaking an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternative routes. We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of Indian Country will be forever grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision.

We want to thank everyone who played a role in advocating for this cause. We thank the tribal youth who initiated this movement. We thank the millions of people around the globe who expressed support for our cause. We thank the thousands of people who came to the camps to support us, and the tens of thousands who donated time, talent, and money to our efforts to stand against this pipeline in the name of protecting our water. We especially thank all of the other tribal nations and jurisdictions who stood in solidarity with us, and we stand ready to stand with you if and when your people are in need.

Throughout this effort I have stressed the importance of acting at all times in a peaceful and prayerful manner -- and that is how we will respond to this decision. With this decision we look forward to being able to return home and spend the winter with our families and loved ones, many of whom have sacrificed as well. We look forward to celebrating in wopila, in thanks, in the coming days.

We hope that Kelcey Warren, Governor Dalrymple, and the incoming Trump administration respect this decision and understand the complex process that led us to this point. When it comes to infrastructure development in Indian Country and with respect to treaty lands, we must strive to work together to reach decisions that reflect the multifaceted considerations of tribes. Treaties are paramount law and must be respected, and we welcome dialogue on how to continue to honor that moving forward. We are not opposed to energy independence, economic development, or national security concerns but we must ensure that these decisions are made with the considerations of our Indigenous peoples.

To our local law enforcement, I hope that we can work together to heal our relationship as we all work to protect the lives and safety of our people. I recognize the extreme stress that the situation caused and look forward to a future that reflects more mutual understanding and respect.

Again, we are deeply appreciative that the Obama Administration took the time and effort to genuinely consider the broad spectrum of tribal concerns. In a system that has continuously been stacked against us from every angle, it took tremendous courage to take a new approach to our nation-to-nation relationship, and we will be forever grateful.

Sunday, December 04, 2016

Senator Tom Casperson has just introduced a new bill, SB 1187, which authorizes the unelected Natural Resources Commission to designate wolves as a game species and open a trophy hunting and commercial trapping season on them, should their federal Endangered Species Act protections be removed. But, as readers will remember, Michigan voters already voted on almost precisely the same measure just two years ago (Proposal 2), and rejected it in a landslide, with every single county in the Lower Peninsula voting against it (along with Chippewa County in the U.P.). The Michigan legislature should honor the expression of the will of the people and not countermand their very explicit judgment (64 percent opposed the Proposal 2).*

Please contact your Michigan legislators (find them at www.humanesociety.org/stateleglookup) and ask them to vote NO on SB 1187. In your correspondence with legislators feel free to use any of the following points:

In the November 2014 general election, in addition to rejecting the idea of turning over a wolf hunting decision to the Natural Resources Commission, voters also rejected wolf hunting as authorized directly by legislators. Michiganders opposed that measure by a double digit margin. In short, Michigan voters rejected, by wide margins, two wolf hunting laws that were submitted as referendum Proposal 1 and Proposal 2. These were the first two public votes on the issue of wolf hunting in the nation, and as a result, Michigan lawmakers have the best data set to support the argument that the public does not support sport hunting and trapping of wolves.

Wolves in the Great Lakes region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan) are currently under the protection of the federal Endangered Species Act, and cannot be hunted or trapped for recreation. However, if wolves were delisted in the Great Lakes again, two Michigan laws, PA 290 and PA 318 of 2008, authorizing the removal or killing of wolves attacking livestock or pets, would go back into effect. In addition, even while wolves remain under Endangered Species Act protection, the U.S. Code does authorize the killing of wolves that are even perceived to be a threat to humans. In short, ample protections already exist for any wolf conflicts. There is no reason for Michigan to authorize wolf hunting while federal law forbids that activity.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) already provides the state’s ranchers with fencing, fladry, and guard animals to protect livestock from native carnivores, and has stated that these methods are highly effective.** Michigan livestock owners are also compensated for confirmed or even suspected losses to wolves. Still, cases of wolves killing livestock in Michigan are extremely rare, amounting to just .0005 percent of livestock deaths in 2015. This percentage is even lower than the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) nationwide statistics, which put wolves at the very bottom, at .2 percent, of the list of hazards to livestock that include respiratory, digestive, and calving problems, weather, disease, lameness, injury, theft, even vultures. Moreover, scientific studies have amply demonstrated that indiscriminate killing of wolves by hunting is not only ineffective at mitigating conflicts with livestock, it could even make those few problems worse by dispersing packs and sending inexperienced juvenile wolves out on their own.

Wolves are shy and avoid humans as much as possible. On the rare occasion when wolves have been spotted in populated areas of the U.P., it was typically the result of humans drawing them into town by feeding deer, wolves’ preferred prey. But even in those instances, wolves did not threaten or harm humans. Even when wolves are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, they can still be killed by officials if they are even perceived to be a threat. Further, recent stories of wolf sightings on private property in some U.P. towns have not been substantiated, nor were official reports of those incidents filed with the Michigan DNR as is required.

Nor have accounts of negative impacts on Michigan’s deer population by wolves been substantiated. The Michigan DNR recently reported that even after years of harsh winters, its 2015 deer hunt showed that "Hunter satisfaction was up this year across all categories measured -- number of deer seen, number of bucks seen, overall hunting experience and deer harvested."

The recovery of wolves also provides essential benefits to Michigan’s ecosystem. As recently underscored by a Michigan DNR/University of Notre Dame study, wolves play a significant role in the Great Lakes ecosystem by reducing densities of deer, beavers, and other species, even protecting timber stocks and agriculture crops by reducing deer overbrowse. And by controlling deer populations, wolves can also help to mitigate the risk of car-deer collisions. Thus, wolves can benefit agriculture, public safety, water quality, and ecosystem health.

A virtual flood of scientific studies in the past few years have made it abundantly clear: there is no justification for killing wolves simply for trophies, out of hatred, to protect livestock, or in a misguided attempt to boost prey species for hunters.***

With all of this in mind, Michigan legislators should respect the mandate from the people of the state of Michigan that was rendered in the 2014 general election, and reject SB 1187, which tramples on that public sentiment.

Jill FritzDirector, Wildlife ProtectionThe Humane Society of the United States

** According to Wikipedia, "Fladry is a line of rope mounted along the top of a fence, from which are suspended strips of fabric or colored flags that will flap in a breeze, intended to deter wolves from crossing the fence-line."

Thursday, December 01, 2016

CALUMET -- Christmas in Calumet, with the lighting of the Christmas tree, and the First Friday, Dec. 2, Art Walk begin a weekend of holiday activity in Calumet. During your visits to the new art exhibits Friday evening, take time for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 7 p.m. next to the Calumet Theatre. Everyone is welcome to join in singing carols outside and enjoy refreshments in the Theatre Ballroom afterward.

Lenard grew up in Arlington Heights, Ill., and took a few art classes in high school. She is a self-taught watercolor artist and has been painting everyday for the last 15 years. When she moved to the Upper Peninsula Lenard started drawing detailed birds in pencil. She lived in Rockland ,Mich., for seven years. Besides enjoying canoeing and snowshoeing, Lenard started to experiment with watercolors. Her life dream was to live in Alaska so she moved to Fairbanks, joined the Fairbanks Watercolor Society and received good guidance as a fledgling artist.

Lenard currently resides in Hancock and participates in The Poor Artists Sale, the Keweenaw Art Affair and Copper Harbor's Art in the Park. Lenard now teaches her techniques in both painting and drawing at the Porcupine Mountains Folk School, the Calumet Art Center, Copper Country Associated Artists, Holistic Center in Chassell and at her studio.

Celebrate First Friday with the Calumet Art Center, 57055 5th St., open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 2. Stop in and meet Artist Jim Dee, who has 10 years’ experience teaching high school art and 8 years as a professional artist. Jim will have some of his work on display and will be offering painting classes in the new year!

The Center has an incredible assortment of new items for your holiday gifting. You will find new unique one of a kind clay bells, a trio of clay sleigh bells dangling from red willow, new 906 ornaments, Christmas web ornaments, wool pillows filled with balsam, fresh green wreaths and much more. Local artists have come together to donate miniatures for sale as fundraisers. Elsa Mugford has generously donated some of her latest clay works as well.

Local and
regional artists have been asked to create works of art inspired by
nature that will be on display in the Paige Wiard Gallery, 109 5th St.,
for the month of December. An opening reception will be held from 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. in the Gallery. The public is invited to get inspired by the beauty of nature and see unique takes on the classic theme of nature. For more information please contact the
gallery at paigewiardgallery@gmail.com or 906-337-5970.

Stop in at Hahn Hammered Copper, 203 5th St., this First Friday evening to see what’s Merry and Bright! Rochelle D. and Mrs. Grimm have decked the halls with shiny copper and unusual items like Rochelle’s original Sphericals and Mrs. G.’s ornamental found objects. Check out the lovely fragrant soaps hand-crafted by Jones on Smith Avenue, Folk Artist Jerry Hammes’ winter scenes, plenty of antiques, and many cool re-purposed pieces. As always, Hahns will have their own fabulous hand-hammered copper and vintage copperware made by well-known Copper Country coppersmiths!

Calumet Floral and Gifts: Wreath Decorating Workshop

Calumet Floral and Gifts, 221 5th St., is holding a hands on wreath decorating workshop from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Reservations are needed to secure supplies! Each participant will receive a fresh evergreen wreath to decorate. A variety of ribbons and trims will be available to choose from. Designers will be on hand to help and teach as needed. Experience the joy of design!! Cost: $25 per wreath. RSVP to 337-1711. The store is also dressed for the holidays and loaded with gift giving ideas and gift making supplies!

Vertin Gallery and Antiques: Artist and Musician Justin Plichta

The Vertin Gallery, 220 Sixth St., presents "A Christmas Story" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for First Friday, Dec. 2. The Vertin has a broad selection of beautiful art, estate finds, and amazing treasures to make your Christmas story one they'll remember for years to come. Featured artist Justin Plichta is a Keweenaw native raised in Houghton. He earned a bachelor's degree in Scientific and Technical Communications from Michigan Tech and currently owns and operates Jj Video Productions located in Hancock. Justin has also written, produced, and performed music locally over the last decade. Sketching and painting portraits and figures with charcoal, oil, watercolor, and acrylics has become his latest creative outlet.

December brings the joy and magic of the holiday, and Main Street Calumet is bringing Santa and his elvesfrom 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 3, 10 and 17 along with gorgeous Clydesdales pulling Santa's carriage to The Vertin, where you'll find authentic and reflective antiques, modern mid-century furniture, fine art, jewelry, lamps, bar cabinets and accessories, plus sophisticated and kitchy decor for your home. The Vertin is a co-op family of artists and lovers all things old and unique. Currently open for consignment of Artwork, Vintage, Antiques and quality furniture. Pre-estate planning and consultation available. Call 906-934-2655. Open Friday and Saturday noon - 6 p.m. or by appointment.

Copper Country Associated Artists: Holiday Open House

Copper Country Associated Artists, 205 5th St., will hold a Holiday Open Housefrom 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. This year the gallery artists have added a few more of their works of art for this gift giving season celebration. Refreshments will be served. Call 337-1252 for more information.

Cross Country Sports: Local artists' new work, Open House

Cross Country Sports, 507 Oak Street, will hold a Holiday Open House from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec.2. Enjoy holiday cookies and refreshments while shopping for unique gifts in a warm and inviting downtown setting! For the month of December, Cross Country Sports will feature new works by local artists: Metal prints and 2017 calendars by Jeremy Rowe - Night Sky Photography; jewelry by Annele Sakari—Hello Starling Designs; nature inspired jewelry by Jackie Ellenich - Designs by Jak; new water color prints and cards by Barbara Flanagin - Amorosi Artworks; jewelry and cards by Nina Ollis; pottery mugs and bowls by Elaine Eikenberry and slip pottery vessels by Jess Kane!

While you are here, check out the great selection of cross country skis, snowshoes, snowbikes and outdoor apparel -- everything you need for a healthy and happy new year! For more information call 337-4520, www.crosscountrysports.com or Facebook.

Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24: Santa will be at the Vertin Gallery from from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3: Keweenaw National Historical Park will be holding a Holiday Open House at the Visitor's Center from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Children can create a tree ornament and refreshments will be served. Everyone will also enjoy 10 percent off at the Visitor's Center Bookstore.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

To open the Nov. 3, 2016, Climate Café event -- third in the series on "What's the Deal with Climate Change?" -- twins Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski, 8, of Houghton, prepare to illustrate suggestions from the audience on what to do about climate change. Assisting them are Robert Handler, left, of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and his twin brother, Stephen Handler, U.S. Forest Service climate specialist. The Handler twins co-hosted the event, organized by the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC). (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- TAKING LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION, the fourth and final Climate Café event in the series "What's the Deal with Climate Change?" will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Orpheum Theater, 426 Quincy Street in Hancock. This is a FREE information and discussion event from the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC), which sponsored the first three events in the series in September, October and November.*

You need not have attended those discussions to join this one and consider these questions: How can we make local changes now? What should the next steps be for the KCC? Discussions will be led by several climate-focused community leaders. FREE pizza and drinks will be served. All are welcome to attend including kids. There is no admission charge, but donations to help cover food and space rental costs will be accepted. The series is organized by the KCC, sponsored by the local chapter of the American Chemical Society and the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Tech.

The first three Climate Café events were well attended by diverse community members, educators, students and families. Following presentations by experts on climate issues and general question and answer sessions, the audience was asked each time to break up into small groups to discuss some questions on a climate topic and then report on their discussions or submit comments in writing. KCC also began a Facebook Page for added information and communication among those interested in the topics.**

In September the discussion began with an introduction by Sarah Green, Michigan Tech professor of chemistry, who has done extensive research on climate change. Audience members then discussed their own ideas on climate change in small groups and reported on their discussions. In October Fred Quivik, retired Michigan Tech professor of environmental and technological history, presented human causes of climate change from a historical perspective. The November session was led by Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and his twin brother, Stephen Handler, a U.S. Forest Service climate specialist.

October Climate Café: "How did we get here?"

During the Oct. 13, 2016, Climate Café, historian Fred Quivik displayed this graph showing world use of different types of energy from 1850 to 2000.

On Oct. 13 Fred Quivik, historian and retired Michigan Tech professor of environmental and technological history, traced the history of human interaction with the planet, demonstrating how machines eventually replaced manual labor, thus requiring energy from wood and then coal and other fossil fuels -- leading to the current crisis of climate change from too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Fred Quivik, retired Michigan Tech professor of history, opens the October 13, 2016, Climate Café on causes of climate change with questions for the audience on types of energy. Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) member Erin Pischke draws images of their answers. Click on YouTube icon for larger screen. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

In this video clip Fred Quivik demonstrates how industrialization with coal developed, beginning with the use of coal for heat and cooking in 16th-century England. In his presentation Quivik refers to The Subterranean Forest: Energy Systems and the Industrial Revolution, by Rolf Peter Sieferle.

Using this table on land use in England and Wales, Quivik discusses how forest land continued to be reduced -- first by conversion to pasture land and then by agricultural use.

Following his talk on climate change from a historical perspective, Fred Quivik reads questions from the audience for general discussion.

One comment on the effects of eating meat led Quivik to display this graph comparing amounts of CO2 produced in various types of food production.

During the Oct. 13, 2016, Climate Café event, following the small-group discussion, participants comment on energy uses that are within our control in the Keweenaw. Kathy Halvorsen, Michigan Tech professor of natural resource policy and KCC organizer, leads the discussion.

Mike Schira, district educator for Michigan State University Extension, had a positive reaction to the discussions.

"When we talk about food production that's a core of vital use of our energy as opposed to recreational or casual use," he said.

"What can we do about climate change?" was the question for discussion at the Nov. 3, 2016, Climate Café. Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and his
twin brother, Stephen Handler, a U.S. Forest Service climate specialist, hosted the event, asking the audience to come up with possible solutions.

To begin the third Climate Café event on Nov. 3, twin brothers Robert and Stephen Handler ask the audience for their ideas on what to do about climate change. Twins Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski, with Robert's help, illustrate the ideas -- ranging from "abandon New Orleans" to electric cars to public transportation and renewable energy. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Enjoying the free pizza during the Nov. 3 Climate Café at the Orpheum, Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski are pictured here with their parents, Jim and Andi Vendlinski of Houghton.

Robert Handler, standing, and his twin brother, Stephen, foreground, asked the audience to consider two possible concepts in dealing with climate change -- mitigation and adaptation.

Stephen Handler introduces the twin concepts of mitigation (to slow down climate change) and adaptation (to soften the blow). Robert then talks about mitigation -- reducing or preventing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Here Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute discusses energy efficiency and ways to mitigate climate change. When he compares reducing fuel efficiency in vehicles to reducing vehicle use by half, Richelle Winkler, Michigan Tech associate professor of sociology and demography, comments on why the second choice is better.

Stephen Handler fields audience questions and comments on the importance of what we do now for the climate health of both present and future generations.

Among the younger members of the audience on Nov. 3 were these Michigan Tech students -- from left, Sam Dix of L'Anse, student in mechanical engineering; Kelsey Carter of Knoxville, Tenn., Ph.D. student in forest science; and Jeremy Luebke of Chicago, student in environmental engineering (celebrating the Chicago Cubs World Series victory with his hat).

During the small group sessions on Nov. 3, audience members were invited to write down suggestions of solutions to climate change on post-it notes under general categories such as infrastructure, water quality, renewables, energy conservation, forests, agriculture and more. Since then Robert Handler compiled these brainstorming ideas into a long list which he posted recently on the KCC Facebook page. Click here to see his Nov. 25 post with the list attached.

"We will be building on these ideas to talk about local actions that our group wants to work on," Rob Handler writes.

He encourages everyone to attend the next Climate Café this Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Orpheum. The KCC wants to gather a community of interested people who will help
plan the future priorities for their grassroots organization. Thursday's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a few five-minute presentations from local people who are developing
responses to climate change. Then the audience will break into groups according
to interests and start making plans.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

HOUGHTON -- The recent presidential election was the fifth time in the nation’s history that the popular vote winner was not the winner of the election. The National Popular Vote (NPV) Compact, a "way around" the Electoral College, will be examined in a program by The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, in the community room of the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton.

The US League of Women Voters has had a position calling for abolishing the Electoral College since 1970. In 2008 the League conducted a study of the NPV Compact proposal. The 2010 Convention amended the national position to support the National Popular Vote compact as another method of selecting the President until such time as the Electoral College is abolished.

States sign a compact with each other to give all their electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes across the entire nation (the popular vote winner). Is it legal?

It goes into effect when states holding 270 Electoral College votes have signed on. What if they back out?

Already states holding 165 votes have signed the compact. What about Michigan?

Attend this meeting to learn more about this issue, the Electoral College and where it stands today. The meeting is free and open to the public. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, grassroots, issue-oriented, political organization open to women and men. Information is available at www.lwv.org and www.lwvccmi.org. See also http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/.

By Jennifer Donovan, Michigan Tech Director of News and Media Relations Posted Nov. 21, 2016, on Michigan Tech NewsReprinted in part with permission

HOUGHTON -- At first, Mario Calabria thought it was a joke. The whole family was mountain biking on the Tech Trails, riding slowly on a flat part of the trail, when his father suddenly fell off his bike, hitting a tree as he slumped to the ground.

Mark Calabria was a fit 56 and an active outdoorsman. "I thought he was messing with us, pretending to be someone who didn’t know how to ride a bike," Mario recalls.

Then the fourth-year mechanical engineering student at Michigan Technological University noticed that his father’s eyes had rolled back into his head.

As his younger sisters screamed, Mario transformed into something he had spent 224 hours training to become: an emergency medical technician (EMT). Within 30 seconds, he had his brother’s girlfriend calling 911; he found a map posted on a tree and identified exactly where on the Trails they were; he called Travis Pierce, assistant director of the Michigan Tech Emergency Medical Services (as well as Mario’s mentor and friend). Within two minutes, he had checked his father’s pulse, found that he didn’t have one, flipped him over and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ... CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article on the Michigan Tech News.

Slide Show: Christmas in Calumet 2016

Christmas in Calumet continues this Saturday, Dec. 10, with wagon rides, visits with Santa at the Vertin Gallery, and more. Click on the photo above to see our slide show of Calumet on Dec. 3: the Poor Artists Sale, Santa, and art gallery exhibits. Click on any photo and follow the arrows. To read captions, click on the info icon.

Local group to stand vigil for Standing Rock Dec. 8

The local group Copper Country and Keweenaw Standing For Standing Rock invites concerned citizens to show solidarity with the Water Protectors and Veterans at Standing Rock in North Dakota in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Participants will gather at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, walk down to Wells Fargo on College Avenue/US 41, peacefully stand vigil for divestment from Energy Transfer Partners, then return to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. They will then conduct a Prayer Circle from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. All interested community members are welcome to join the group at any time during the event. Please make a sign to bring attention to this issue that affects us all. Suggested sign messaging includes: Wells Fargo Divest, Stand With Standing Rock, Water Is Life, No DAPL. The group will also be accepting donations throughout this event to be sent out to the Water Protectors. Winter survival donations (including snow removal tools, snow shovels/scoops/snowblowers) take priority. For specific ideas, follow this link:http://sacredstonecamp.org/supply-list/

Reminder: Meeting on Popular Vote Dec. 8

The National Popular Vote (NPV) Compact, a "way around" the Electoral College, will be examined in a program by The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, in the community room of the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. Click here for details.

+News Briefs / Announcements

Noteworthy, the Copper Country's only women's barbershop chorus, will perform its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock. "A Noteworthy Christmas" also features a vocal ensemble from Hancock High School. There is no charge for admission, and a free-will offering will be taken to benefit Copper Country Habitat for Humanity. Noteworthy will perform a program ranging from the lighthearted "It’s a Marshmallow World" to devout songs of the Christmas story. Among them is a richly layered rendition of "Mary, Mary" with a calypso beat and "The Birthday of a King." Other holiday favorites on the program include "Christmas Dreams," "Jingle Bell Jazz," "What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?" and the nostalgic "Marvelous Toy." For more information on Noteworthy, contact Joan Petrelius at 906-482-5088 or petreliusj@cts.k12.mi.us.......Family and support people for individuals living with serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, can register for a free course from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)/Keweenaw Area chapter. The series of 12 sessions is structured to help caregivers understand and support individuals while maintaining their own well-being. The course, designated an evidence-based practice by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is taught by a team of trained NAMI family member volunteers who know what it is like to have a loved one struggling with one of these brain disorders. Classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Houghton. They are for support people only. Pre-Registration is required and is open now. Call Bill or Barry Elizabeth Fink at 482-4632.......Do you participate in a book group? The Portage Lake District Library is creating a list of local book groups for all ages and would like to hear about yours. Useful information includes the name of your group and contact person, a theme if you have one, and dates and time that you meet. Please also say if your book group is for adults, teens, or grade school students. For more information, please call Chris at the library at 482-4570.......Storytime for the school year at the Portage Lake District Library is held from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. Young children are invited to come for stories, craft projects, occasional music, and lots of fun. For special Storytimes on Saturdays, please look for announcements on library posters and on the library’s website. Children are also encouraged to use the Children’s Listening Center at the library to enjoy music, foreign languages, and stories on CDs. Up to four people at a time can use the equipment, including parents who want to help their children learn another language or simply enjoy music or a good book together. Please ask a librarian to help you get started. All library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......HEET (Houghton Energy Efficiency Team) is planning a 2016 Winterization Campaign and Efficiency Challenge. Local businesses, organizations and church groups are getting involved. HEET has moved into a new office in Hancock at 422 Quincy St. in Hancock. Click here for info.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club

Houghton County Democratic Party

Waste Management Garbage and Recycling new schedule for Hancockstarted on Sept. 12, 2016.- All items need to be out by 7 a.m.-Weekly same day pick up for garbage and recycling (using a new dual garbage truck)-Pick Up Day Change affects some neighborhoods:-East of Elevation Street will be on Monday.-West of Elevation Street will be on Wednesday.*Pick up for residents living on Elevation, S. Elevation and N. Elevation Streets will be on WEDNESDAY.-Any container will work for recycling. Some people are painting or taping (recycling) on the bins they now use or you can purchase a new recycling bin from McGann’s or Risto’s.-Single stream will continue for all items including glass and clean pizza boxes!-Service is also available to small commercial.-The City still has a recycling drop off at the DPW Garage (1601 Tomasi Drive)QUESTIONS: Call Bill Marlor, DPW, 482-1480 or Glenn Anderson, City Manager, 482-1121.Click here for Waste Management's new list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling.Thank you for your participation.

Slide Show: 2015 Parade of Nations

Click on the photo above to access this slide show. Then click on the first photo and follow the right arrows. To view the captions click on the info icon.

Slide Shows: Family fun with science, more ...

Our recent slide shows highlight the Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) community events held Aug. 4 - 6, 2016; the 2016 Keweenaw Science Fair winners honored by Carnegie Museum; and the Lake Superior Celebration at GLRC in April 2016.

The new slide shows can be accessed as follows: Click here or on the photo above for the slide show of the Aug. 5, 2016, Keweenaw Water Festival at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Click here for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 Keweenaw Science and Engineering (KSEF) family events held in Houghton's Kestner Waterfront Park, and click here for photos of some 2016 Science Fair winners and highlights of the April 26, 2016, Lake Superior Celebration sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, the Copper Country Recycling Initiative and more. For each slide show, click on the first photo in the album and click the info icon in the top right corner for the caption. Then click on forward arrows to view the photos as a slide show.

Copyright Policy

For our copyright policy, please click here or email us if you wish to use any of the photos or video clips by Keweenaw Now. Photos by guest photographers are copyrighted and you must seek their permission for re-use. This policy applies to the photos in our slide shows as well. Please do not share photos taken by guest photographers without their permission.

Eagle Rock, 2010: Slide show

In May 2010, concerned Native and non-Native citizens camped, prayed and planted a garden at Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, which was blasted for the portal to the Rio-Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine. The mine, now in operation, was sold to Lundin Mining Corporation of Toronto. Click on photo above to access a photo album on Eagle Rock protests in May 2010. Click on the first photo in the album and then on the info icon to view captions if they are not visible on the right. To view the photos as a slide show, click on the forward arrows.

Keweenaw Now is on TWITTER. Scroll down this column to see our latest Tweets.

Save the Wild UP

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

Friends of the Land of Keweenaw

Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition's mission is protecting and maintaining the unique environmental qualities of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by educating the public and acting as a watchdog to industry and government. Visit UPEC on Facebook.

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District

HKCD's 2016 Tree Sale has found a home for every tree and plant. Gina Nicholas, HKCD president, thanks the volunteers and friends who helped make the sale a success. HKCD donated some plants and trees to the school gardens at Calumet, Chassell and Houghton. "It is great that the schools are helping children gain first hand experience about gardening and where the food we eat comes from," Nicholas said.

Save the Water's Edge

Portage Lake District Library

Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

Finlandia University

Stewards of Bete Grise Preserve

A Rascal's Craft

The poetic musings of Eelu Kiviranta, a Finnish immigrant and self-proclaimed rascal. Side-by-side Finnish with English translation by Lillian Lehto. Introduction by Steve Lehto. Includes "The Copper Country Strike of 1913." Available from Amazon or the translator, 1419 Yosemite, Birmingham, MI 48009, $19.95. Click on cover to see Youtube video.

Distant Drum

Original clothing and wall pieces custom designed and sewn by Andrea Puzakulich in the Keweenaw for 25 years. Distant Drum is located in Hancock's Historic E.L.Wright Bldg. Open most weekday afternoons. Call ahead.

Calumet Art Center

Click above to learn about new classes starting in February 2016.

New edition of book by Steve Lehto

Click on book cover to access Steve's Facebook page on the Italian Hall disaster.

Red Circle Consulting

Mike Lahti at State Farm

Copper Country Community Arts Center

Keweenaw BEST!

Michigan League of Conservation Voters

What Is Sustainable

Author Richard Adrian Reese recounts how his life took a new direction after 9 years of simple living in the Keweenaw -- and offers a new worldview for a sustainable future.

Welcome to Keweenaw Now!

Welcome to our Keweenaw Now blog. This site, the sequel to the Web site www.keweenawnow.com, officially began on September 1, 2007. The Blogger format allows you, our readers, to comment on any post. Read our articles here and send us your comments and suggestions! Your comment will come to us on email (without showing your email address) and as long as it's not objectionable we will post it on the article page. Please note: Right now the comments do not appear on the home page; but, if you click on the headline of an article, it will go to the article's own (archive) page, where comments do appear and where you can reply to them. Click on the comment link below the article to send us a comment. Sometimes the number of comments is indicated on that link on the home page. It may take some time for it to appear.

In addition, Keweenaw Now offers editing -- including editing of scholarly papers in various fields -- and some translation services. We can also help you write or edit the text on your Web site.

Iraq death count

Weather

More stories in our Archives ...

If you missed one of our previous articles, you can find all of them archived through links in the right-hand column. Click on the week you missed, and the headlines of articles for that week will appear as links you can click on to read the story on its own page.